ABSTRACT
In the 2000 Census, for the first time individuals were given the option to self-identify with more than one race, a practice that was continued in the 2010 Census. American Indian and Alaska Native respondents who identified themselves with only one race are referred to as the “American Indians and Alaska Natives alone” while those who identified themselves with more than one race are referred to as “American Indians and Alaska Natives combination population” (U.S. Census Bureau 2012). Because of this change, the 2000 and 2010 census data on race are not directly compatible with the 1990 and earlier censuses. The term “American Indians or Alaska Natives” refers to people having origins in any of the original people of North and South America (including Central America), and who maintain tribal affiliation or community attachment (U.S. Census Bureau 2012).
